Clash Of Politics: Former Selangor Umno Chief Questions Alliance With DAP

Tan Sri Noh Omar, the former Selangor Umno chief, raised eyebrows when he questioned the need for Umno to show gratitude to its unity government partner DAP. He pointed out that DAP had previously been accused of trying to remove the multiracial party from power.

In the lead-up to the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election, Noh took a strong stance during his campaign for Perikatan Nasional (PN). He accused Umno of compromising its values by joining forces with DAP, a party that had been a fierce opponent prior to the formation of the current government in late 2022.

A Question of Dignity

Reflecting on past encounters, Noh spoke about a meeting with former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad during his second stint in Putrajaya under the initial Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration.

"Where is Umno’s dignity? What has DAP done to deserve gratitude from Umno's president, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi?" Noh questioned during a PN campaign event in Kuala Kubu Baharu last night.

Noh recounted how he and other Umno representatives had met with Dr. Mahathir when Umno was in the opposition. Mahathir had advised them to ensure DAP became the opposition, even if it meant sacrificing his role as Prime Minister.

Noh was particularly critical of Umno’s decision to allow DAP to field its candidate in the Kuala Kubu Baharu election. He expressed disbelief and said he was glad he was no longer part of Umno.

MCA Takes a Stand

Noh also praised MCA's decision not to campaign for DAP’s candidate, 31-year-old Pang Sock Tao. He viewed this as an honorable move that demonstrated the MCA's integrity.

"(Zahid), this used to be an MCA seat. He made a decision without consulting MCA, as if the party had no dignity," Noh said. “I applaud them for not supporting DAP’s campaign.”

Key Political Players and Historical Context

Present at the PN event were key figures like PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Selangor PN chief Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, and Bersatu Srikandi chief Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun.

Kuala Kubu Baharu has been a DAP stronghold since 2013, when DAP’s Lee Kee Hiong won the seat by defeating her rival from BN by over 1,700 votes. Lee went on to defend the seat in the 2018 general election, winning by a margin of 7,134 votes.

In last year's state elections, Lee secured the seat for the third time, beating PN's Gerakan candidate by 4,119 votes. The upcoming election features Pang, Bersatu’s Khairul Azhari Saut, Parti Rakyat Malaysia’s Hafizah Zainudin, and independent candidate Nyau Ke Xin.

The seat was declared vacant following Lee's death on March 21. With a PN candidate from PAS winning the Hulu Selangor parliamentary constituency in the 2022 general election, the coalition now holds the other two state seats under the parliamentary area.

The Road Ahead

Voters will head to the polls on May 11 in a four-cornered contest involving Pang, Bersatu's Khairul Azhari Saut, Parti Rakyat Malaysia's Hafizah Zainudin, and independent candidate Nyau Ke Xin. The outcome will shape the future of Kuala Kubu Baharu and could have broader political implications for the region.

In a time of shifting political alliances, the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election stands as a significant event to watch. How parties navigate their relationships and their strategies in this election will provide insight into the future of Malaysian politics.

Zulaikha Farhana is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!

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